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A congressionally mandated commission on Thursday called for an overhaul of the military’s compensation and retirement system, recommending changes so that future service members will contribute to their own retirements and could choose private-sector healthcare plans. (Lamonthe, 1/29)

A special commission looking at Pentagon spending called Thursday for scrapping the centerpiece of the military health-care system and trimming guaranteed retirement benefits for career officers, as part of a broad plan that could save the Defense Department billions of dollars. After 18 months of research, the independent commission concluded that the Pentagon’s pay and benefit system “is fundamentally sound and does not require sweeping overhaul.” But the 280-page report lays out a series of politically charged changes that are certain to face strong resistance in Washington. (Nissenbaum, 1/29)

Future U.S. military families and retirees should be given a choice of health-insurance plans and help paying the premiums, according to an independent commission that looked at ways to update benefits and slow the growth of personnel costs. The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission also suggested adding 401(k)-style retirement accounts to the mix of military benefits. (Tiron, 1/29)

A high-profile commission to overhaul military pay and benefits is pushing to dissolve the Tricare health care system familiar to troops and their families into a new program and scale back the pensions for service members who stay long enough to retire. (Wright, 1/29)

Care for urology patients at the Phoenix VA medical center remains so flawed that veterans' lives may still be endangered, according to a stopgap report issued Wednesday by the Office of Inspector General. (Wagner, 1/29)